TheTeen Beach Movie premiere is getting so close, we can almost taste it! We got a chance to sit down with the loveable Maia Mitchell, who plays the flick’s leading lady McKenzie. Not only did this starlet give us the scoop on her weird bowtie obsession, but she also spilled the 411 on her cute co-star, Ross Lynch.

GL: What’s your favorite thing about your
character, McKenzie?

Maia: She’s so strong-willed and has such an ability to speak her mind. I think that’s really admirable.

The
film takes place on the beach, naturally. Have a favorite summertime memory?

I
grew up at the beach [in Australia], so summer’s the highlight of the year.
Just being able to walk out the door and jump into the ocean with all my
friends is something I’ve always loved…and miss now that I’m not there.

If you could be stuck on a deserted island with one Teen Beach Movie star, who would you pick?

Definitely
Ross Lynch. He’s always flipping in the air and has so much energy, so he’d
probably be climbing trees, grabbing coconuts and doing all the work while I’d
be enjoying paradise.

Have
a favorite Teen Beach Movie song?

“Cruising
for a Bruising.” It just has so much character and Ross’ vocals on it are
amazing.

What
about your favorite Teen Beach Movie costume?

I got to wear this black outfit that was very kind of Sandy in Grease. It had these tight leather pants and jacket, with these high red shoes, which was interesting to walk in on the sand.

If you could swap wardrobes with a Teen Beach Movie star right now, who would you pick?

Grace
[Phipps] has an outrageous fashion sense. She mixes and matches everything,
like leopard print with bright pink shorts and heels and pulls it off. It’s
amazing.

Spill
one random fact about yourself.

I
went through this weird period of collecting bow ties. I guess I started by
shopping at thrift stores and found a bunch. There was a point where my room
was literally covered in them. My mom used to get worried about my sanity!

Be sure to catch Maia and the rest of the Teen Beach Movie gang when the movie premieres Friday, July 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel.

Are you a fan of Maia Mitchell? Can’t wait to see her in Teen Beach Movie? Share in the comments below.